crappy cpu performance : (

[thechipper1982]

well, a couple of months ago i built a computer buying the parts from newegg.com

i have been really happy with the computer and thought all was well until i ran a 3Dmark test on my system.

basically the graphics card tested 16-19 fps which is fine, and then it tested the cpu performance and it crawled sooo slowly and only got 0.5 fps

this is not right, i just paid $150 for my processor.

can anybody tell me if i'm doing something wrong?  here is my system:

cpu: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 5200+ @ 2612 MHz
mem: 2032 MB
OS: xp service pack 2
motherboard: asus m2n32-sli deluxe acpi bios revision 0903
video: nvidia GeForce 7900 GS 512MB

anyway, the only thing i can think of is that the cpu and motherboard aren't talking like they should be, but i'm not sure why that would be

ps i don't think that the temp is hurting anything, my cpu temps range from 55-70 c

anyway, any help would be great, i have no clue what to do.

[phoenix910]

Well, one main thing is processors shouldn't get above 60 degrees, and yours gets to around 70 - check to make sure that all your thermal paste is applied properly and that the fan is running correctly. If not, consider getting third party thermal paste and larger or more effective fans. $150 isn't that much for a processor either, and that could be another problem point. I would expect to pay at least 200, up to 350 for a decent processor. In terms of processor performance, having a 1MB L2 Cache won't help performance, but it shouldn't hinder it too much, however the 1ghz FSB is a plus point. Without knowing exactly what you've done with your system, it's hard to say (i.e. what other programs are running etc.), but try lowering that temperature and let me know if that helps.

-Stephen

[WillyW]

... check to make sure that all your thermal paste is applied properly and that the fan is running correctly. If not, consider getting third party thermal paste
...

Along this line, here are a couple handy links:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/274
and
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

[Calum]

That's pretty much normal I think.
CPUs aren't really designed for 3D work, most CPUs will get extremely low FPS scores on the 3DMark benchmarks.
Compare your overall score with other, similarly specc'd, computers, and see how yours measures up.
If your PC isn't slow overall I don't think there's anything to worry about.
70C isn't too bad for that CPU either, as long as that's load temperature (e.g. after a benchmark).
phoenix, what kind of CPUs are you buying for $300?
The price has nothing to do with the performance at all, and very good CPUs are available in the sub-$200 range.

[patio]

Benchmark scores are just that...more useful for vid cards than processors...
Just curious after your CPU test finishes what is the top rated CPU on their list ? ?
And where is yours in relation ? ?

[phoenix910]

CPUs aren't really designed for 3D work, most CPUs will get extremely low FPS scores on the 3DMark benchmarks.

phoenix, what kind of CPUs are you buying for $300?
The price has nothing to do with the performance at all, and very good CPUs are available in the sub-$200 range.

Good point about the CPU's not being designed for 3D work, I read the post incorrectly - I read it as not that he was testing the CPU for graphics, but rather that after he tested his graphics card for graphics, his entire system slowed down, including his frame rate which slowed to 0.5. Oops!

And I suppose the CPU's I'd be buying for that price weren't exactly mid range.. They were more of the higher end CPU's shall we say. It just slipped my mind that there were still cheaper ones available. 

-Stephen

[thechipper1982]

thank you all for your comments, i'm beginning to wonder now even more about if there is a problem or not?

when i did the benchmark test they rated my computer very low overall like in the 25% range saying that 75% of all computers tested better than mine.

i find this very strange as i thought i was buying above average components and all

i definitely know my computer isn't even close to top of the line i was surprised that's all.

i really don't think that the temps have much to do with it as at 67 c that is at peak performance.

hmmmmmmm.....

[Calum]

Remember that most of the people running the 3DMark tests are serious gamers who want the best from their systems.
So, the tests aren't representative of the entire market, just a small section, mainly high end PCs.
Your PC is about mid end, but in the section I'm talking about it's low end.
I hope this makes some kind of sense.
It's still a good PC, and I don't think there are any problems.
How many 3DMarks do you get?  Compare your result to similar systems.